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The University of La Verne held a 21-17 lead late in the third quarter only to watch Chapman University post consecutive scoring drives in a six-minute span to propel the visiting Panthers to a 31-27 win over the Leopards in the season finale Saturday at Ortmayer Stadium.

La Verne held a 21-17 lead after David Merlos scored from 3 yards out with 4:41 remaining in the third. The Panthers answered when Ian Galanis scored on a 2-yard run to give Chapman a 24-21 advantage with 2:03 remaining in the third quarter to culminate a nine-play, 80-yard drive. The Panthers scored on their next possession when quarterback Eric Marty tossed a 44-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Koller to increase the lead to 31-21.

La Verne (1-8) responded on the kickoff when Taylor Hart took the kick and raced 82 yards for the score to pull the Leopards within four at 31-27.

The Leopards threatened late in the contest and reached the Panther 30 yard line. La Verne however would get no further as quarterback Troy Doolittle was stopped for no gain on fourth down, allowing the Panthers to gain possession and run out the clock.

ULV got on the board first on a 23-yard scoring run by Chris Handy at 10:45 in the first quarter to grab a 7-0 lead.

The Chapman defense struck next when Kaeo Kane picked off a Doolittle pass and returned it 54 yards to the end zone to even the game at 7-7. Koller put CU up 10-7 on a 31-yard field goal in the second quarter.

Merlos put the Leopards back on top with a 2-yard scoring run to give La Verne a 14-10 edge. The touchdown capped a six-play, 62-yard drive. Chapman would retake the lead into intermission when Koller caught a 23-yard TD pass from Luke Robinson with six seconds remaining to put the Panthers up 17-14.

Doolittle passed for 270 yards on the day to surpass the 2,000-yard mark for the season. John Ausman led ULV in receiving with 78 yards on 6 grabs with Anthony De Jager compiling 77 yards on 8 catches.

Box score: CU 31, ULV 27